The light of all mankind.
A call to worship.
Themes
The light of the gospel • The image of God • The Word • Friendship with God • A portrait of Christ
We were to be a portrait of Christ — a masterpiece expression of Him — just as He was of the Father. However, we turned away, and we became defaced and graffitied with sin. But Christ returned. He came back to have His portrait redrawn and renewed.
Scripture reading
John 1:4–5 2 Corinthians 4:4 Colossians 1:15
This call to worship1 comes from the first chapter of John, as well as from a couple of sections of letters that Paul wrote that are similar to what John wrote.
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The god of this age has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel — the light that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created. He is supreme over all creation.
Prayer
Father in heaven, thank you for our Creator and our Savior, Jesus Christ, without whom we would not exist and without whom we would not be saved. Your Word — the Word that went out in the beginning, into the void, and created — is the very same Word who went out into a sin-ravaged world and saved us. He brought light into darkness, to create new life again — to recreate us, Father, to recover what was His. Father, it seems that He so perfectly reflected you — He was THE visible image of all that you are. We too were created in your image. We too were created to be like Him and to know Him and, like Him, to enjoy friendship with you, just like He always did. We too were to reflect your beauty and your grace and your love and your holiness, just like He always did. We were to be a portrait of Christ — a masterpiece expression of Him just as He was of you. But we turned away and we became defaced and graffitied with sin. But this morning, Father, we celebrate that Christ returned. He came back to have his portrait redrawn and renewed. He is here, with us, your people, here in Beaverdam — here in our midst. He’s come back to continue renovating the original us. THE image of you, God, came to show us what it means to be in your image, and He is here this morning to continue remolding us into what we were created to be. Father, thank you for Him. Thank you for loving us in this way. Continue to do your work in us this this morning, in the name of the one who is supreme over all creation, who is THE image of God, who is recreating us to be the same. Amen
Inspiring resources
A call to worship creates wonderment, amazement, curiosity, yearning, captivation, provocation, hopefulness, thankfulness, affection, rapture, delight. As these mix together, the response is worship.
If this call to worship leaves you wondering or curious or provoked or hopeful, consider diving into this awesome book.
This call to worship was given to the small assembly of Christians that gathered in Pathway Church, Beaverdam, Michigan, on Sunday, October 24, 2021.